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German Shepherd Black Mouth Cur Mix: Info, Pictures, Characteristics & More

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By Nicole Cosgrove

German Shepherd Black Mouth Cur

The German Shepherd Black Mouth Cur cross is a mix of two hard-working, intelligent breeds. It combines the German Shepherd, originally bred for herding, with the Black Mouth Cur, an American breed developed as a multi-purpose working dog that performed a variety of tasks on farms and ranches. The resulting breed is a dog that is close to its family and loves to be given tasks to perform.

It is also intelligent and lively, but it might not be the best breed for first-time dog owners because it does have high training and exercise demands.

Height: 18–20 inches
Weight: 45–85 pounds
Lifespan: 7–13 years
Colors: Brown, tan, black, white
Suitable for: Active families willing to train and socialize their dog
Temperament: Loyal & loving, courageous, strong, energetic, hard-working

The two parent breeds, the German Shepherd and the Black Mouth Cur are quite similar in a lot of respects. They are both hard-working dogs that enjoy being given tasks to complete. They are both easy to train and are both very energetic.

They do require socialization and training because they can be very protective of their families, but the breeds are known to get along with children with careful supervision. The resulting crossbreed generally occurs because of accidental breeding, rather than intentional crossing, but it can make a loving and loyal dog that is hard-working and will form a close bond with its family members.

The breed would also do well as a working dog, as both the parent breeds have a long history of working on farms and the German Shepherd, in particular, is one of the world’s most popular police, armed forces, and search and rescue dog breeds.

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German Shepherd Black Mouth Cur Mix Breed Characteristics

Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

German Shepherd Black Mouth Cur Mix Puppies

The German Shepherd X Black Mouth Cur is a crossbreed and generally comes about as a result of accidental mating between the two breeds, rather than intentional crossing. This means that the cross can be difficult to find, but it might be worth checking with breeders of German Shepherd and Black Mouth Cur dogs. Because they are mixed breed dogs and are considered large breed dogs that require a lot of exercise, you may be able to find German Shepherd X Black Mouth Curs in rescues and shelters.

As a crossbreed, the German Shepherd X Black Mouth Cur shouldn’t cost as much as a purebred of either parent breed. In most cases, you should be able to get one for a few hundred dollars, although this will depend on the breeder and the lineage of the dog.

The puppies will be lively and need plenty of exercise. They should also be given early socialization to ensure that they don’t view strangers and people outside the family as threats. Also, enroll in obedience and puppy training classes when the dogs are young. Both breeds are easy to train and tend to be eager to please their owners but they do need to be taught good manners and basic commands at a young age. This is especially true of the Black Mouth Cur parent breed, which can be quite boisterous.

Parent Breeds German Shepherd Black Mouth Cur
Image Credit: Tetiana Tychynska, Shutterstock (Left) | Wirestock Creators, Shutterstock (Right)

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Temperament & Intelligence of the German Shepherd X Black Mouth Cur 🧠

Not much is known about the cross and while plenty is known about the German Shepherd breed because it is popular across the world, the Black Mouth Cur is less common. However, it is safe to assume that the cross will adopt some of the traits and characteristics of the parent breeds.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

The German Shepherd is known for being good with the family. It is gentle and understanding with children, although it can be protective, which makes socialization and training important. The Black Mouth Cur is also fond of children, but it can be more boisterous, which means that there is a danger of accidental injury so you must supervise interactions between the dog and young children. The German Shepherd X Black Mouth Cur will appreciate family members who are willing to play with and exercise them, which includes older children.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

Both parent breeds can be wary around other dogs, which is another reason for early socialization. While socializing your dog, make sure it meets a good variety of dogs and other animals as well as new people. If you already have pets and are bringing a German Shepherd X Black Mouth Cur into the family, ensure that you take things slowly and allow both dogs time to get to know one another before leaving them alone.

If you bring one of these dogs home as a puppy, it will be a lot easier to introduce them to cats and other dogs than if you bring home an older dog that has no experience with other animals.

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Things to Know When Owning a German Shepherd X Black Mouth Cur:

The German Shepherd X Black Mouth Cur is good with families, although does require supervision around young children. It will require a gradual and patient introduction to other pets and will benefit from early socialization. Other factors to consider when deciding whether this is the right breed for you include:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

The breed does not need any special diet, but it is a high-energy breed that requires a lot of exercise and can benefit from being given a diet formulated for working breeds. If you are feeding dry food, expect to give about three cups of good-quality kibble per day. If you are feeding canned food, weigh your dog and feed according to the instructions on the food packaging. If you use treats as a training aid or you give treats regularly, you will have to reduce the amount of food you give accordingly.

Exercise 🐕

Both parent breeds are high-energy dogs that need a lot of exercise. You should provide 2 hours of exercise a day. This can include walking on a leash, but you should try and offer more intense exercise, too. The breed can do well in agility and also performs well in other canine sports competitions. Alternatively, let them have the run of a fenced-off yard and throw a ball for them to chase.

Training 🎾

The breed is intelligent and generally forms a close bond with its owner. This combination means that the German Shepherd X Black Mouth Cur is considered easy to train. Start training when your puppy is young because this will make it easier in the long run and it will help ensure that your dog doesn’t grow up with bad habits. The breed will benefit from being given tasks and jobs to perform. This will keep their mind active and alert while helping train them.

Socialization is also very important for this breed, especially to ensure that they do not view strangers or other dogs and animals as threats to the family.

Grooming ✂️

The German Shepherd is a heavy-shedding dog but despite having a long coat, it is quite easy to groom. The Black Mouth Cur is a moderate shedding dog with a short coat and is also considered easy to groom. You will benefit from giving your dog a daily brush, especially during and around shedding season.

You will also need to brush your dog’s teeth at least three times a week and ensure that the claws are kept short enough that they aren’t painful. Check the ears occasionally and clean around the outside if necessary.

Health and Conditions ❤️

Both parent breeds are somewhat prone to certain conditions and while this is a hybrid and thus less likely to develop some of those conditions, both breeds are prone to hip dysplasia, primarily because of their size. Possible health conditions for the cross include:

Minor Conditions
  • Entropion
  • Ectropion
  • Ear infections
Serious Conditions
  • Gastric Dilation & Volvulus
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Von Willebrand’s Disease
  • Hemophilia

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Male vs Female

There are very few differences between the genders, except possible hormonal differences, and males will usually grow taller and a little heavier than females. If your dog is spayed or neutered, there are almost no differences in temperament.

hepper-dog-paw-divider 43 Little-Known Facts About the German Shepherd Black Mouth Cur Mix

1. Not All Black Mouth Curs Have Black Mouths

The Black Mouth Cur is so named because of the black patch around the dog’s mouth. However, not all Black Mouth Curs even have this black patch. Some have a plain brown mouth that matches the rest of their coat. Although the dog tends to be brown or fawn, it can come with white patches and flashes of white under the chin and on the back.


2. Both Dogs Were Bred to Work on Farms

The German Shepherd was bred to be a shepherd dog, which means that it was used to herd livestock. It was also used to protect the animals under its charge, and would also have performed a variety of other tasks, but its principal job was to herd. Less is known about the exact history of the Black Mouth Cur, but it is believed to have first been bred in the US and used as a utility dog on farms and ranches.

It, too, would have herded animals and it would have served as a guard dog and watchdog. It is safe to assume that the German Shepherd X Black Mouth Cur would make an excellent herding dog and may retain some of the herding habits of both parent breeds.


3. They Can Be Mouthy

German Shepherds, in particular, are known to be “mouthy” breeds. This doesn’t mean that they bite or are prone to biting, but they do mouth, nibble, and chew. Herding dogs use their mouths to encourage livestock to do what they want and this is still the case even in those that are not used for herding today. Early training can be used to discourage mouthing but the German Shepherd X Black Mouth Cur may always be prone to a little mouthiness.

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Conclusion

The German Shepherd X Black Mouth Cur is a cross that combines the German Shepherd and the Black Mouth Cur, both of which were raised to work on farms, herd livestock, and perform several other important functions on farms and ranches. The result is a cross that retains some of the herding and working capabilities of the original parent breeds. The cross does make a good family dog that will usually get along with all family members but does require a lot of exercise and needs early socialization especially to ensure that it will get along with other animals.

Arguably the biggest challenge of owning this breed, though, will be ensuring that you provide enough regular exercise and stimulation to keep your new dog entertained and fulfilled.

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